Coffee like from a coffee shop in your own home....
This is the dream of many people. By having the right equipment, you can prepare a beverage yourself that will satisfy even the discerning gourmet. However, different coffee brewing techniques can produce different results. Which one will work for you?
The brewing method affects the appearance, taste and properties of the brewed coffee. Some beans are even made for preparing the beverage in devices such as a cafetiere or a pressurized coffee maker, while other varieties are suitable for a French press or a pour-over machine. Whatever type of stimulating drink you prefer, you can make it at home. See which coffee brewing devices are the most popular.
Pressurized coffee maker
This type of coffee maker is the device most often found in professional cafes and restaurants. It allows you to prepare many coffees in a short time, and you can freely choose the type of coffee. Pressure machines can also be equipped with a boiling water faucet and a nozzle for frothing milk, and often have a built-in grinder for grinding beans. Coffee prepared in this way is considered to be the tastiest and is preferred by the vast majority of coffee drinkers. The device is quite large, but the built-in coffee maker is sure to be able to be inserted even into a small kitchen. This is a very practical piece of equipment that you can easily keep clean. It also does not require tedious maintenance. The only downside of espresso machines is their relatively high price. However, if you compare the cost of a homemade cup of aromatic coffee from an espresso machine, to the one bought in a coffee shop, then in the long run the purchase of the device will certainly pay off more than expected. Coffees are best suited for preparation in this way:
- dark roasted, because they give off aroma faster, and during pressure brewing the ground coffee has a short contact with water.
- Arabica types, which have a mild flavor devoid of acidity and excessive bitterness. Although it is also worth trying different blends with interesting notes.
- groundjust before brewing and freshly roasted - this way you can get the most aromatic and distinctive brew.
The classic form is espresso, which is a small serving of black, strong coffee usually served with a glass of water to sip. Coffee brewed in a pressure machine is also great for making coffee drinks.
Cafeteria
A much simpler device is a cafetiere, also known as a coffee maker. It is usually a metal pot consisting of 3 parts:
- a container, into which water is poured,
- a funnel, in which the previously ground coffee is placed,
- a container into which the finished drink is strained.
Traditional coffee makers are placed on a gas stove, where the base of the device is heated by a flame. Nowadays there are also electric coffee makers on the market, which plug into a socket. In this way you can prepare both aromatic espresso and cappuccino or latte. The same types of coffee that are recommended for pressurized coffee makers will work well in a cafetiere.
Pour-over coffee maker
Known from American movies, the machine in which the finished drink goes into a larger glass jug. The principle of operation here is very simple, according to the name, the drink is obtained by pouring hot water through a layer of ground beans. In this way, larger quantities of the drink can be prepared at once. However, creating coffees such as lattes or cappuccinos will require additional equipment. The advantage of a pour-over coffee maker is its relatively low price and small size.
French press
One of the simplest methods of brewing coffee is to use a French press. The device consists of a pot and a piston with a strainer. Coffee is brewed by pouring the appropriate amount of ground beans into the pot, pouring hot but not boiling water over them, waiting about 3 minutes and gently pushing the piston to the bottom of the pot. Such coffee is incredibly aromatic, as the beans have a longer time to release their flavor and aroma. It is also very inexpensive and easy to use. Almost all types of coffee can be brewed with this method - both pure arabica and blends, light and dark roasted coffee. However, the degree of grinding of the beans is important - it is necessary to grind them a little coarser, so that the fine particles do not penetrate the strainer.
Crucible
Traditional Turkish-style coffee brewing is very spectacular. It is done using a special pot with a long handle. The pot is usually made of copper, as this metal heats up quickly and conducts heat evenly. In the original version, such a pot was placed in hot sand, but nowadays it is usually heated over a gas burner. There are also models suitable for electric and induction hobs. Coffee in the pot must be brought to a boil, preferably several times, until foam appears on the surface of the brew. Turks, when brewing this coffee, immediately add sugar to it, usually in very large amounts. However, sweetening is not necessary to obtain an aromatic and tasty coffee.
Which solution will work best in your home?
